Places to go and things to do

Local towns and sights

We know that not every day is a windsurfing or sailing day and for some holiday makers, its the other activities that are most fun for them. The area around Malcesine and the north of lake garda is full of ancient towns, villages, castles, shrines,waterfalls and spectacular rock features as well as boasting excellent and cheap places to eat.

Europa Holidays do not manage the following activities but can provide you with all the information you need and assistance with travelling to or from the venues. Most are within 30 minutes drive from our base at Navene, near Malcesine. Choose from the list below or try to visit them all.

• Malcesine - bars and restaurants and small shops buried in narrow, cobbled streets with its fabulous castle
• Torri, Garda, Lasize - south of Garda and increasingly 'touristy' but worth the visit
• Peschiera,Sirmione,Desanzano - traditional towns along the south shore with a 'Riveria' feel to them
• Verona with Juliet's balcony and the Arena (where Opera is staged throughout the summer)
• Torbole, Riva del Garda, Arco to the North are all different ways of seeing Italians and Italy, and drinking and eating with them
• Parco grotto Cascate Varone, Valle di Ledro, Lago d'Iseo, Dro, Drene and the Disneyesque lake and castle at Castel Toblino

Excursions and overnight stays

With the rich cultural heritage of northern Italy and the proximity of the major cities Verona, Venice, Mantua, Padua, Milan and Trento. Lake Garda is ideally situated to combine both a cultural and a sailing holiday. The Arena in Verona has the world famous Opera season which runs from late June until the end of August and we can arrange an overnight stay in an old and atmospheric hotel on one of the canals in Venice. For the opera programme and dates take a look at our pdf brochure downloadable from the home page.

Excursions

Venice, Verona and Mantova are all within easy reach of Lake Garda. It is also possible to make day trips to Milan and Florence as well as visits to the nearby Dolomites. You can pre-book trips with an English speaking guide.

Venice

Wonderful for a visit but not so good for accommodation or an extended stay, so why not have the best of both worlds, a relaxing relatively uncrowded holiday on Lake Garda with an excursion to Venice? Europa Holidays offer a 1 night stopover in Venice staying in a 2-star hotel in the very centre of the ancient city.

The Opera

Think of this like going to see a show in London, only with 10,000 people and real stages and settings. A unique experience in nearby Verona is the world renowned opera season in the Roman Amphitheatre which runs from early July to late August. The programme varies each year but usually includes Verdi’s Aida. Tickets can be difficult to obtain, so please apply with your booking form. Children under eight are not admitted as the opera starts at nightfall and finishes after midnight, so be prepared for a late night but be ready for an experience never to be forgotten.

Our prices include entry to the opera and return travel by air conditioned coach:

Food, drink and retail therapy

Lake Garda is in the middle of the wine regions of Bardolino. Alto Adige and Valpolicella and there are many cantinas and enotecas to help you discover the varied and delicious wines.. Pizza and pasta, rabbit, polenta, deer and fish are all local specialities not to mention the cheese, ice-cream and desserts! Malcesine hosts a Saturday market where leather goods, ceramics, shoes and locally produced food can make great presents. To the north of the Lake there is a shoe outlet from where you can buy leading names at amazing prices. Most shops here now take credit cards but you may well get a better price for many good if you pay in cash and negotiate hard!

There are many local restaurant serving excellent food and the chance to seek out both Agriturismo and 'slow food' restaurants. Our favourite restaurant in Malcesine is 'Taverna dei Capitani' while in Navene we have 'Ristorante Athos' which is at the sailing centre and filled in the evenings with non-sailors and sailors alike.